I'll Tell Your Fortune
A Christian young man was returning home one evening, when he was accosted by a Gypsy, with the words, "I’ll tell your fortune."
Our friend was so taken-a-back that for the moment he did not reply, and the man explained, "I am a fortune teller; I can tell you what will happen in the future."
"But how am I to know that you tell the truth?" "Oh, I have books; I tell by astrology." "Well, I would like to ask you a question first, so as to test whether you can really tell the truth or not. If you can tell my fortune truly, you can certainly tell your own. "Where will you be in a hundred years?"
The Gypsy looked greatly annoyed, and replied, "Oh, I don’t know that; but you let me look at your hand, and I will tell your fortune for you." "But," replied the Christian, "I also am somewhat of a fortune teller. I also use books, and if you will tell me one thing, I will tell your fortune for you." "What do you want me to tell you?" "Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son?" "No, He was not God’s Son."
"Now," replied our friend, taking a New Testament from his bag, "I will tell your fortune. My book tells me, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." This is your fortune. Now you have the wrath of the Living, True God ever abiding on you, and in a hundred years you will be in hell, in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, unless you believe on the Son of God."
A long talk ensued on the side of the street and the fortune teller asked, "May I have one of your books?" a request that was gladly granted. What the result may be, God alone knows. But let me ask you, reader, have you ever thought about your fortune, your eternal fortune? You need not remain in doubt as to that.
Thank God we have a Book that leaves no room for uncertainty in these matters. Where will you be in a hundred years? Where will you be tomorrow? What could be more brief, more pointed, more precious, and yet more awful, than those solemn words:
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him." John 3:36
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED" (Romans 10:9).
